If you were hurt as a passenger on a public bus or train, or hit by a public bus as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian, your claim is against a public agency such as AC Transit, BART or San Francisco's Muni. In California, a personal injury claim against a public agency usually must be filed with that agency within six months of the injury (Government Code § 911.2). That is much shorter than the usual two-year deadline for an injury lawsuit.
Each is a public entity, so the Government Claims Act applies. Private shuttles, charter buses and tour buses follow different rules.
The law allows a request to file a late claim in limited situations, but it is harder and not guaranteed. Do not count on it.
California treats a bus or train operator that carries passengers for pay as a common carrier. It must use "the utmost care and diligence" for passengers' safety (Civil Code § 2100). That is a higher standard than ordinary care, and it can matter when a bus or train brakes hard, moves before a passenger is seated or safely off, or crashes.
Daniel Weltin recovered $8 million in Harris v. AC Transit, a bus injury case in Alameda County (2017). Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
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Reviewed by Daniel Weltin, attorney at law. Updated November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice for your case. Laws change, so call us about your situation.
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